Read the texts and do the tasks.

Education in Britain

In England and Wales compulsory school begins at the age of five, but before that age children can go to a nursery school, also called play school. School is compulsory till the children are 16 years old.

In Primary School and First School children learn to read and write and the basis of arithmetic. In the higher classes of Primary School (or in Middle School) children learn geography, history, religion and, in some schools, a foreign language. Then children go to the Secondary School.

When students are 16 years old they may take an exam in various subjects in order to have a qualification. These qualifications can be either G.C.S.E. (General Certificate of Secondary Education) or “O level” (Ordinary level). After that students can either leave school and start working or continue their studies in the same school as before. If they continue, when they are 18, they have to take further examinations which are necessary for getting into university or college.

Some parents choose private schools for their children. They are very expensive but considered to provide a better education and good job opportunities.

In England there are 47 universities, including the Open University which teaches via TV and radio, about 400 colleges and institutes of higher education. The oldest universities in England are Oxford and Cambridge. Generally, universities award two kinds of degrees: the Bachelor’s degree and the Master’s degree.

Education in the USA

Education is not mentioned in the Constitution, nor is there any federal department of education, so the matter is left to individual states. Education is free and compulsory in all states, however, from the age of 6 till 16 (or 18).

At 6 years of age children go to elementary school, or first grade (the second year is "grade 2" etc.). At elementary school the emphasis is placed on the basic skills (speaking, reading, writing, and arithmetic), though the general principle throughout the American school system is that children should be helped to develop their own interests.

Children move on to high school in the ninth grade, where they continue until the twelfth grade. There are two basic types of high school: one with a more academic curriculum, preparing students for admission to college, and the other offering primarily vocational education (training in a skill or trade).

The local school board decides which courses are compulsory There is great freedom of choice, however, and an important figure in high schools is the guidance counsellor, who advises the students on what courses to take on the basis of their career choices and the frequent tests defining abilities and propensities.

In order to receive the high school diploma necessary in most states to get into college, students must accumulate a minimum number of credits, which are awarded for the successful completion of each one- or half-year course. Students hoping to be admitted to the more famous universities require far more than the minimum number of credits and must also have good grades (the mark given on the basis of course work and a written examination).

Extracurricular activity (such as playing for one of the schools sports teams) is also very important in the American school system and is taken into consideration by colleges and employers.

Education in Australia

There exists a centralized national system of education in Australia.

The top of this system is the Federal Ministry of Education. But there are still many differences in the structure and the curricula of schools in different states. There exist two types of schools in the country: state schools and private schools. Tuition in state schools is free of charge. Private schools charge rather high fees. 80 % of Australian children go to state schools, and only 20 % attend feepaying schools.

School education is obligatory for all children from 6 to 15 years. At present the school education scheme is “6+4+2” or “7+3+2”. Most children begin primary schools at the age of about five. Primary schools include from 1 to 6 or 7 grades. After the primary school children pass to the secondary school without examinations. Junior high schools comprise 4 or 3-year courses. After these courses students complete two year senior high school.

After senior classes of secondary schools students may enter any higher educational institution in the country. There is a tendency of cancelling final examinations in both junior and senior secondary schools. In this case more children, irrespective of their abilities, may receive secondary education. University admission is only after the senior secondary schools. Tuition fees differ from one state to another.

Education in Canada

The school system of Canada is very much like the one in the USA, but there are certain differences. Education in Canada is general and compulsory for children from 6 to 16 years old, and in some provinces — to 14. It is within the competence of the local authorities, and therefore it may differ from province to province. For example, Newfoundland has an 11-grade system. Some other provinces have 12-grade systems, and Ontario has even a 13-grade system. Grades 1—6 are usually elementary schools, and grades 7—12 are secondary schools. In some provinces there is a kindergarten year before the first grade. Elementary education is general and basic, but in the junior high school years the students can select some courses themselves. Most secondary schools provide programmes for all types of students. Some of them prepare students for continuing their studies at the university. Vocational schools are separate institutions for those who will not continue their education after secondary schools. There also exist some commercial high schools. Some provinces have private kindergartens and nursery schools for children of pre-elementary age. There also exist Roman Catholic schools and private schools in some provinces. In most provinces private schools receive some form of public support. Admission to the university in Canada is after high school with specific courses. Getting a degree in law, medicine, dentistry or engineering usually takes 3—4 years of studying. University tuition fees vary among different provinces. All provinces also have public non-university institutions. They are regional colleges, institutes of technology, institutes of applied arts, colleges of agricultural technology and others.

2.Give Russian equivalents of the following words and word combinations:

Compulsory, age, nursery school, foreign language, secondary school, exam, subject, Certificate, "O level" (Ordinary level), university, private school, expensive, education, higher education, opportunity, bachelor, master.

3. Answer the questions:

1. When does compulsory school begin?

2. How long does a child stay in compulsory school?

3. What subjects do children learn in Primary School?

4. What kind of exam do students have to take when they are 16?

5. Do students have to leave school at the age of 16 or to continue their studies?

6. How do private schools differ from the regular ones?

7. How many universities are there in England?

8. What is the Open University?

9. What kinds of degrees do universities award?

10. Where is the centralized national system?

На дом: make an essay on topic: «The best education system from my point of view» or «What are the differences between education systems of the USA, Britain, Australia, Canada and Russia»